getting ready to buy a 110 aus spec with diesel

[shendren]

that's an australian spec with an isuzu 3.9L 4bd1 turbo diesel...

i understand they are used in the npr trucks here in the us.

anyone here have a diesel?

anyone know of any links to get some info on the isuzu motor. i have looked, nothing coming up....

also, saw a 2006 defender on a website. were these made for the us mkt? they are nice looking.. the 2007 looks a little futuristic for me..

thanks. scott.

[TerryS]

If you're sincerely planning on getting into a Defender 110, you need to do lots of homework.

Adaptation of various engines in the land of Oz are genergally well thought out, based on the engines available to them, and not necessarily what is done in the UK or the US. The Isuzu engines used in their larger trucks are very good engines, and have been transplanted into lots of non Isuzu trucks.

BUT...............

You are going to find fairly quickly, in investigating the loads of Defenders for sale in other countries, is that they are, for the most part, unavailable to buyers in the US. The general rule of thumb, cast in fairly rigid terms by the NHTSA (National Highway Safety Administration) is that in order to import a vehicle less than 25 years old, it must (A) be imported by a Registered Importer, (B) be made to meet many standards, the conversion of which requires baskets of cash, (C) have a bond, equal to 100% of the vehicles value posted, guarenteeing it will be made to meet those standards, and pass scruteneering by EPA and DOT examiners (failing that, it must be immediately exported, or destroyed)

The value of the original pool of 535 legally imported trucks, in 1992-3, is now somewhat less, but highly inflated by virtue of their "exclusivity".
There are many trucks around, not from that original 'batch', which fall into several catagories; imported legally and made to conform, assembled here and legally registered as either home built, or reconstructed from NAS D90s (see ECR) and those which are not legal, imported with false documentation, such as titles and ID plates from trucks over 25 years old (no 110, or Defender 110 is over twenty five years old) such as 109 series trucks.
Many of the original NAS 110s are getting pretty tired now, and in need of rebuild, so getting one of them is not as expensive as some of the rediculously priced ones from places like ECR of Copley Motorcars. They aren't as difficult to rebuild (and rebuild well) as some would have you believe, and in the long run, are economically competitive with going to import route.

I'm not sure if I answered your questions, beyond, yes, Isuzu engines are good 'uns.

[shendren]

i was told that the 110 truck i'm looking at is a 110 from australia that was disassembled and then shipped here and then partly reassembled.? is this common to avoid import problems?

thanks. scott.

[TerryS]

Originally Posted by shendren

i was told that the 110 truck i'm looking at is a 110 from australia that was disassembled and then shipped here and then partly reassembled.? is this common to avoid import problems?

thanks. scott.

Common, I guess, is a relative term, given that the trucks aren't common however they got here. But, yes, many have come in that way; substantially dissassembled, and imported as parts. Some have come in with engine, transmission and front end of, others have come in sitting on a pallet, with only their wheels off.

How they get here is neither here nor there; whats important is the paperwork. They began making 110s in late 1983 (They weren't know as Defenders till much later) so no 110 is yet 25 years old. Then it becomes a question of dubious paperwork. It is likely to be flat out false, as in transplanted ID plates and paperwork from a Series 3 109 or some other older truck, or the paperwork may have come from a writen off NAS truck.

There are two possible scenerios which might make it more appealing to the law abiding citizen; A, it could be so close to 25 years old, that it might be worth buying it, spend your time fixing it up first class, and getting it registered on it's 25th birthday; or, B, it was imported during the period know as the gray market period, prior to the law changes requiring it to be 15 years old. The old rule was that it be 5 years or older. Actually the complete rule included required mods, and it permitted 'any citizen' to import 'one' vehicle (per lifetime) There fore, if you can show it came in before the rule change (and I'm fuzzy on this, but I think it was late 90s) and it has had whatever the required mods were at the time, then it might not be so scary (Each state will bust your stones to a greater or lesser degree)

If the tinwork is all you want, and you don't care about registering the truck, go for it and you'll get a good night's sleep not worrying about having it confiscated and destroyed. If you want to drive it down the road, well, you're prettymuch on your own.
Personally, Customs enforecement is so stretched these days, I'm not sure I'd worry about being caught tomorrow, only getting it registered. Heaven help you if you're ever involved in an a accident where you insurance company has to pay out. When and if they find it is illegal, they can, and likely will deny any claim, leaving you exposed to major financial worries.

Dumb question, but have you personally inspected the truck? Get down on your hands and knees and find the "REAL" vin number, which should be stamper on the outside of the frame, just forward of the bulkhead (on US trucks its on the left side, but on some others it is stamped on the right side forward of the axle. When you find this number (not the one on the "phoney" paperwork, run it on something like Carfax (many states use the same database) If the number will not run, well, you know................

[shendren]

thanks for the lengthy response. i'm a little fuzzy on this. i have a guy going to look at it for me this weekend.... i will get the real vin on it and run it. the insurance thing is a valid one. i need to ponder that too. i'm told it's an 01 aus spec. i will get the full history this weekend...

[TerryS]

Originally Posted by shendren

i'm told it's an 01 aus spec. i will get the full history this weekend...

That pretty much rules out the possibility of it coming in under the old gray market rules. Tread lightly.

[130CC]

also check as to why there is a isuzu motor as this is odd for the AU market. Why would someone remove the origional motor and replace it with an izuzu.
Adam

[TerryS]

Originally Posted by 130CC

also check as to why there is a isuzu motor as this is odd for the AU market. Why would someone remove the origional motor and replace it with an izuzu.
Adam

Good point, Adam. Maybe it came in to the US as "Parts" (often without drivetrain) and had the ISUZU put in over here.

[MHRead]

Hi there - Australian Defender owner here. After 1999 they dropped the TDi motor, and adopted the BMW built TD5 engine. In Austrlia, from 1999 onward the Defender was available as the Xtreme model, and some were available with an expedition pack (racks, ladders, bars, lights winch, gps, etc). this is the most saught ofater model, and luckily for me the model I own.

I have no trouble with my engine, although there are a number of reported issues with them, most commonly it seams oil in the ECU wiring loom, which eventually finds its was to the ecu, and then you are in trouble. I have not had this issue, nor have the majority of owners.

Regular servicing to Land rover spec is the most important thing for the TD5, and I would expect to see an extensive Land Rover service history. One of the issues is that the defender has 2 oil filters, (One filter, one centrifuge), and non Land Rover dealers, and most owners do not realise this, and the centrifuge, which feeds the turbo with oil does not get changed. After a while it can block up, and starves the turbo of oil - you guess the rest. Still - you can pick up a complete service kit from a VIC dealer I know in austrlia for $100 AUD, and easily servie it yourself... The centrifuge is under that dome next to the turbo - even easier to replace than the filter, as you dont need to take the engine cover and heat shield off.